File:Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purânic (1882) (14594610869).jpg

Identifier: hindumythologyve00wilk (find matches)
Title: Hindu mythology, Vedic and Purânic
Year: 1882 (1880s)
Authors: Wilkins, William Joseph, 1843-1902
Subjects: Mythology, Hindu Legends, Hindu
Publisher: Calcutta, Thacker, Spink & co. London, W. Thacker & co. (etc., etc.)
Contributing Library: Princeton Theological Seminary Library
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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beings ! The supreme being thus eulogised, upholding the earth,raised it quickly, and placed it on the summit of the ocean, whereit floats like a mighty vessel, and, on account of its expansivesurface, does not sink beneath the waters. This seems ratherto contradict the common notion of the Hindus, that the earthrests upon the back of a tortoise ; and that earthquakes are theresult of the tortoise changing the foot on which he stands, whenweary. 4. THE NRISINGHA OR MAN-LION AVATARA. In the account of the preceding incarnation, it was statedthat Vishnu, ere he raised the earth on his tusk, slew a demonnamed Hiranyaksha. This Daitya had a brother namedHiranyakasipu, who, the Vaya Purana says, had obtained aboon from Brahma, that he should not be slain by any created The Nrisingha or Man-Lion Avatara. 5 being; the Kurma Purana adds, excepting Vishnu. When there-fore his pride, fostered by his supposed immunity from danger,had led him to great excesses, so that his death was desired both
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7frn J!uiat~* •■« THE NRISINGHA AVATARA. by gods and men, Vishnu descended in the form of a livingbeing, half-man and half-lion, and so neither man nor animal,and slew him. By the assumption of this form the letter ofBrahmas promise was kept. As the story of this demonshatred of Vishnu, arising from the fact that that deity had slainhis brother, and of the wonderful efficacy of the worship ofVishnu, is one of the most interesting narratives in the Puranas, 126 The Puranic Deities. it is given at some length. It is taken mostly from the VishnuPurana. * Hiranyakasipu, the son of Diti, had formerly brought thethree worlds under his authority, confiding in a boon bestowedupon him by Brahma. He had usurped the sovereignty ofIndra, and exercised himself the functions of the sun, of air, ofthe lord of waters, of fire, and of the moon. He himself wasthe god of riches ; he was the judge of the dead ; and heappropriated to himself without reserve all that was offered insacrifice to the god

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